It had been a great Swansea pelagic with Buller's Albatross, Gould's Petrels
and Black-bellied Storm-petrels when I jumped off the wharf at 4PM and into
the car with Gerry Richards. Our first disappointment was missing Sooty
Oystercatcher and Reef Egret followed by an incredible storm with rain so
torrential we could not drive and a lightning spectacular that made everyone
fear for their lives. We birded through and at Stockton picked up Grey
Plover and Great Knot with some good birds like Hobby, Scaly-breasted
Lorikeet and a suprise Blue-faced Honeyeater in Swansea. We drove to
Gloucester and had an Echidna, 10 Greater Gliders, a Mountain Brushtail, 5
Tawny Frogmouths and a couple of Ringtails.
Dawn and we cleaned up well in the wet forest with Flame Robin, Olive
Whistler, Red-browed Treecreeper, Satin Flycatcher, Bassian Thrush up high
and lower down at Copeland Pale-yellow Robin, Wompoo Fruit-dove,
Russet-tailed Thrush and Emerald Doves. To Grahamstown for the obligatory
Musk Duck and Crested Grebe and then Bulga for woodland birds-Speckled
Warbler, Grey-crowned Babbler, Little Eagle all being very handy.
Back to Newcastle with a quick loop of Ash Island and then Shortland. We
were on 181 and still had not seen any ibis. Then it happened and a White
Ibis was found in flight-it nearly made it to rarest bird of the trip and we
never had any luck with Straw-necked. At 182 we went to hand in our results
and Gerry found a Little Egret making our final total 183. We had a good day
and thankyou to our sponsors we raised $600.
Dion
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